FIA's €20,000 Protest Fee Aims to End 'Disruption Tactics' in F1

The FIA is cracking down on tactical protests by increasing the mandatory fee for lodging a challenge from €2,000 to €20,000 starting in 2026. The move is a direct response to a 2025 season marred by frequent, time-consuming legal challenges that teams used as "disruption tactics." The goal is to ensure only legitimate, well-founded claims reach the stewards' office.

Why it matters:

The new rule aims to preserve the integrity of the competition and streamline race weekend operations. For too long, teams with massive budgets have used the low-cost protest system as a strategic tool to harass rivals and delay the official classification of a Grand Prix, turning the stewards' office into a battleground for psychological warfare rather than a place for genuine justice.

The details:

• The tenfold fee increase, enshrined in the 2026 F1 Regulations, is designed to force teams to conduct rigorous internal due diligence before filing a protest.
• The push for reform was led by McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who grew frustrated with what they saw as the exploitation of FIA resources.
• Red Bull's Tactics: The change follows Red Bull Racing's multiple protests against Mercedes' George Russell in Miami and Canada during the 2025 season, both of which were dismissed but caused significant delays.
• "Put your money where your mouth is": Brown was a vocal critic, arguing the old €2,000 fee was an "inconsequential price" for top teams and that the new €20,000 threshold will force teams to have solid evidence before making accusations.

What's next:

As F1 heads into a new technical era in 2026, the FIA is sending a clear message that gamesmanship will not be tolerated. While the right to protest remains, the financial stakes are now significantly higher. Teams will have to be absolutely certain of a breach before risking a €20,000 fee, which should lead to a cleaner, more efficient post-race process for everyone involved.